Expungement FAQs

Florida Expungement Questions

Answering Florida Expungement and Sealing Questions

Many people have Florida expungement questions. Below I try to answer these questions for you. Although Florida has two procedures – expunging a record and sealing a record – the process is similar. Any differences between the two I will point out in my answers. If you don’t find your answers below, please feel free to contact me with your question.

How can you get your record expunged?

Florida provides a statute that allows you to expunge or seal (read about seal and expunge differences here) your record if you qualify. The Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure and Administrative Code provide how this is done and what must happen if ordered (read these codes and rules here). Additionally, many Clerk of Court websites provide information about this procedure. You can represent yourself or hire a lawyer to get this done.

How much does it cost to have your criminal record expunged in Florida?

This is a good question. There are fixed costs that are required to be paid for both record expungements and sealings. These include the Florida Department of Law Enforcement [FDLE] fee, the cost to obtain documents that you will need, notary fees, and lawyer fees, if you decide to hire one. I break down my fees and the costs on my Expungement Fees and Costs page.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in Florida?

The quick answer is no. We are all allowed to represent ourselves in court. Many people “do it yourself” expungements and sealings in Florida. The process to either seal or expunge your record is not that hard either, however it is time consuming. And if this is the first (and only) expungement or sealing you will do, the learning curve can make it more complex than it is. The benefit of hiring a lawyer is that you do not have to worry about learning this while you try to get this done – especially if time is of the essence.

One tip I will tell you is don’t pay a high lawyer fee thinking it will get done faster (see below) or because your record is a felony rather than a misdemeanor. In fact, shop around. Look for experience and a competitive price structure. This is not rocket science and it should not break the bank (but it should cover the attorney’s time, experience, and effort). Read more on my Do You Need a Lawyer page.

How long does it take to get a record expunged in Florida

The answer varies but currently it is taking between 8 to 12 months to get an expungement or sealing done in Florida today. It depends on many factors including:

How fast you complete the Florida Expungement Packet or Sealing Packet that I send you.

Response time for returning the application from the State Attorney’s Office.

Response time of FDLE in processing the application.

Whether the Court will require a hearing.

How fast the Clerk of Court processes the order.

There are other factors but those are the most significant ones.

How long does it take for your record to clear after expungement?

This varies. Once the petition to seal or expunge your arrest is granted the Clerk of Court must follow their procedure and follow the administrative code. This requires them to remove information in their systems and forward a copy of the order to all required agencies. Once those agencies receive the order they must also seal or expunge the information in their system and then forward the order to any agencies with whom they have shared your information.

Where can I find the Florida expungement statute?

You can look up any Florida statute just by Googling “online Florida statutes.” Or you can go to my Legal page to find the expungement and sealing statutes and the administrative code sections that pertain to expunging or sealing your record.

Have Additional Questions about Sealing or Expunging your Florida Criminal Record

I answer many Florida expungement questions by simply going to my Expungement page. If you still have questions please contact me. The best method is by email or using my contact form. I will try to respond within 24 business hours.